Shoe-shining machine



June 6, 1925.

P. BENINCASA SHOE SHINING IACHINE Filed July 14, 1924 INVENTOR I fimmimwcasa Patented June 16, 1925.

UNITED STATES PIETRO BENINCASA, OF NEW YOKK,N.

Y., ASSIGNOR 01E THIRTY PER CENT TO ANTONIO TEDESCO, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

SHOE-SHINING MACHINE.

Application filed July 14, 1924. Serial No. 725,807;

To all whom it may concern Be it known that L'Pm'rno BENINOASA, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York city, in the'county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shoe- Shining Machines, of which the following is a specification. j p

This invention relates to a shoe shining machine, hayingv more particular reference f;

ed to the brushes by universal joints as to a machine of this type in which a number of rotary power driven brushes are provided and are arranged for manipulating by the operator to engage the shoe,jtheiinvention having for an object'theprovision of a novel and-improved ina chine'of this sort which may be cheaply constructed.

For further comprehension of the inven tion, and of the objects and'gadvantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description andaccompanying drawing, and to the appended claimsf'in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

Fig. 1 of the drawing is a side View showing my improved machine.

Fig. 2 is a'face view thereof; 7 Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view 7 taken on the line 33 of F g.2.

Fig. i is a detail View partly in elevation and partly in vertical section, showing the connection of the flexible shaft, at one end to the motor shaft, and at its other end to the brush.

As here embodied my improved machine comprises an upright frame consisting of the sideposts 10 which rest at their lower ends on a suitable support which also carries the usual footrest. The upper ends of these posts have mounted thereon a casing 14: which projects laterally fromthe posts as shown in Fig. 1. lVithin this casing are two electric motors 15 which are mounted on generally vertical axes, being arranged to rigid tubular member 19 which is fixed at its upper end to the motor casing to swing with the latter, while this member has attached to its lower end a shorter flexible tubular member 19 through which the tubular members 19.

The flexible. shafts are preferably connectshown, each shaft being fixed to a head 21 from which. one pair of the forked elements of the oint project, while the brush is attached to a spindle 22 from which the other forked element of the joint projects, these forked elements being attached to the usual ball 28. Formed on the spindle 22 are the vertically spaced flanges 25 between which the spindle is surrounded by a collar 26 from which a handle 27 projects. Project-*- ing from this handle is a disk-like member 28 that has an aperture 29 therein through which the spindle22 passes. Surrounding the lower portion of the lower flexible tubular element 19,-and also the universal joint,

is a coiled expansion spring 30 which bears at its upper end against afiange 31 on the lower end of the tubular member 19 and at its lower end on the inember 28, this spring being normally under considerable compression, and closely surrounding the said flexible tube 19. By means of this particular disposition of flexible tube, universal joint, and surrounding spring, the brushes may be readily adj u'sted to follow the contours of the shoe being shined, while at the same time tendency of the flexible shaft to vibratory or loose movement is prevented.

The brush is preferably mounted on the spindle 22 to be readily attached thereto and removed therefrom. As here shown the bristles, or cloth, or other portion 32 of the brush is mounted on a spool 33 which is engaged over the lower end of the spindle and is provided with an inwardly projectmg pin 34 which engages in a bayonet slot 35 in the side of the spindle, the horizontal portion of said slot being turned in the proper direction to have the rotary movement of the brush act to keep the pin in place inthe said horizontal portion of the slot and thereby hold the brush on the spindle. For controlling the motor fixed and movable Contact members 37 and 38 may be mounted on the handle 27 and provide a normally open switch which is readily closed by the hand of the operator.

A pair of hooks may be mounted, one on each of the posts 10, to'havethe handles hooked thereover to support the brushes when the machine is not in use. The casing ll may be provided on the. front with, a hinged door 14, while on the opposite or rear. sideof the machine a wall member extends between the posts 10 and has therein a. hinged door. 56 which,v when thrown upward to permit of the customer placing his foot: on the restl2 may. operate, through a plunger bar 57, a counting machine 58. 911 one side of the casing I may mount a money box 59.. and onthe other side a box 60 to contain a cleaning fluid'such as gasoline. rTllG, wall of this box may be roughened on its inner face along one side tofacilitate cleaning ofthe brush;

In the use of the machine, the customer places his foot onthe'rest 12, which is located midway between the sides of the machine. The operator grasps the handle 35 of theybrushes and places the latter one on each side of the shoe, andimoves the brushes back and forth along the shoe, the motors oscillating on their trunnions. The provision of the universal joints inzthe shafts 18 enables the brushes to-bemore readily inclinedat such angles as may be necessary in working upon the shoe.

Havingthus described my invention, what I claim as new. and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States is as follows 1. A shoe shinlng machine comprising a frame, amOtOrsupported thereon, a; flexible shaft attachediat its upper end to said motor,

and a brush on theilower end ofv thesaid shaft, said brush being attached to the shaft bya universal joint connection, and a resilient device" preventing free angular adjustment of the brush withrespect to the shaft.

2; A, shoe shining machine, comprising a frame, a motor supported thereon, a flexible shaftattached at its upper end to said motor,

and a brush on the lower end of thesaid.

shaft, said brush being attached to the shaft by a universal joint connection, and a resilient device preventing free angular adjustment of the brush with respect to the shaft, a collar freely engaged with said brush, and a handle fixed to said collar.

3. A shoe shining machine comprising a pair of posts, a casing fixed to the upper ends thereof, a pair of electric motors mounted'in said casing on vertical axes, a pair of flexible shafts attached at their upper ends to theshafts of the said motors, and brushes removably mounted on the lower ends of said shafts.

4. A shoe shining machine comprising a frame, ..a.motor supported on said'frame for oscillatory movement on a horizontal axis, saidmotor having its rotor axis extending in a generally vertical direction, a flexible shaft connected at its upper end to the motor, and extending downward therefrom, and-a brush attached'to the lower end of said shaft, and a tubular housing for said shaft consisting of an upper rigid portion and a lower flexible portion.

6. A shoe shining machine comprising a frame, a motor supported'thereon, a flexible shaft attached'atits upper end to said'motor, and a brush on the lower end ofthe said shaft, said brush being attached to, the shaft by a universaljoint-connection, and a re silient device preventing free angular adj ustment of the brush with respect to the shaft, a collar freely engaged-with said brush, and a handle fixed to saidcollar.

Intestimony whereof I have afiixed' my signature this 31st day of May, 1924:.

BIETRO BENINCASA.

. Inthe presence of- ERMINIO M. NETTI. 

